Community Journal

Dollar General Permit Issued

November 9, 2009

CATTARAUGUS - The Joint Planning Board representing the Village of Cattaraugus and the Town of New Albion met recently to deal with a special use permit application from Cocca Development, Limited. Cocca is located in Boardman, Ohio, and is the company tasked with building the Dollar General store, slated to go up on the corner of South Main and 3rd Streets in Cattaraugus.

The board had just received the store plans back from the Cattaraugus County Planning Board, which, in accordance with protocol, looked them over with an eye toward county requirements. The county's only suggestion was to include allowance for a sidewalk coming in from Main Street (although there is no connecting sidewalk for it to attach to on that side of the road).

The planning board was now trying to resolve the few details still standing in the way of special use permit issuance. One of the main sticking points involved signage. In examining the original plans, the board determined that the Dollar General sign, as planned, would be higher than what is allowed for in local ordinances.

Also, since much of the lot has been elevated by multiple layers of fill, the board addressed the issue of preventing drainage onto surrounding properties, namely Brooks Market and the Roberts Memorial Free Methodist Church lot.

Village Building Code Enforcement Officer Elliott Ellis II was present at the meeting and said that he had met with Cocca representatives and resolved all the issues. "Dollar General is willing to bring the sign into compliance," he said. On the plans, he pointed out how runoff would be blocked and diverted into storm drains. He also said a mutually agreeable location for the septic system had been determined.

Ellis went on to say that tons of fill had been brought to the site in order to raise the rear portion of the property up to the Main Street level. He said he felt that proper procedures had been followed throughout this process. "Every six inches, they tamped and rolled the area as required," he explained, adding that the earth is now very compact and ready for topsoil.

According to the plans, the metal building will be erected on a concrete slab located toward the rear of the lot. Parking spaces, both in front and along the right-hand side of the store, will be accessed from Main Street. A strip immediately adjoining Main Street will be landscaped and seeded for grass to enhance the roadside appearnce.

The board noted that there seemed to be no provision for a hitching rail for Amish shoppers, as had been suggested in earlier meetings with Cocca, and agreed they would ask for that to be included.

Satisfied with Mr. Ellis's report, the Planning Board passed a motion issuing a special use permit to Cocca Development for the building of the Dollar General store. The motion contained the board's recommendation concerning inclusion of a hitching rail, and also referred to the county's suggestion pertaining to inclusion of a sidewalk.

Before adjournment, Mrs. LeFeber informed other members that she would be tendering her resignation from the board sometime in the near future. She suggested they be looking for a replacement, adding that she has served on the Planning Board for many years and feels it's time for someone else to step in.

The Joint Planning Board is chaired by Denise Myers, and consists of the following members: Jan Bobseine, Lynn LeFeber, Bruce Moody, and Joe Pagett. Ms Bobseine was out of town for this particular meeting.